Josh's pov
"Please open your eyes." A feminine voice panicked as she cried out to me, and I felt a hand slapping against my cheeks. I could feel my head on a soft surface that smelled like a garden of flowers, the smell intoxicating my head and filling my senses, but as I tried to open my eyes, I let out a cough instead as I grabbed my neck.
I couldn't stop coughing as it felt like my throat was being strangled. The moment my eyes opened wide, I regained my full consciousness while my hands were still holding my neck tight.
"Thank heavens," the voice cried, as I felt a soft hand caressing my forehead. The voice didn't sound familiar, and the person bawling her eyes out in front of me was someone that I had never seen before, but by the way she dressed, I could tell that she was a maid.
"You're alive," she cried, covering her mouth with the palm of her hands while tears streamed down her smooth brown cheeks.
I had no idea what was going on and how she managed to get into my room because I had made sure to lock the door before committing that atrocity, which I didn't succeed in, and it would be a shame if anyone was to find out about what I had done.
As the realisation came into my head, I sprung up from her lap and grabbed her by the arm, causing her to gasp in shock.
"Who are you and how the hell did you get into this room?" I asked, but rather than answering, she stared at me in awe as she continued to cry.
"Answer me!" I ordered, my voice fierce.
"I'm sorry," she stuttered.
"Answer me!" I roared. This time, my voice shook the whole room, and the aura of fear around her became close to that of death.
"I was newly assigned as your personal maid, and I had come to take out your laundry." She answered while tears continued to roll down her cheeks as her big brown eyes held fear.
She must have entered the room when I escorted the prince back to his room.
"Why didn't you leave after you took the clothes?"
"I was scared when you came in, and I had no other choice but to hide. Please forgive me. " She pleaded while stammering and with her head bowed, her braids covering her entire face. What amused me was the fact that she had successfully hid herself in the room and I couldn't smell her out. The troubles I was dealing with seemed to have affected me, but I could not possibly let her live after knowing that she saw me almost kill myself.
"You should have left, but now you will have to die," I said, as she raised her head to look at my face with awe in her eyes.
"Please don't kill me," she begged.
"You should have left when you had the chance."
"I was scared. Please don't kill me. "She spoke with her words broken, and I realised she stammered, or was it just fear?
"Then why did you not let me die? One of us has to die, don't you know? " I said through gritted teeth while glaring at her, but she had her head bowed again. I would hate to murder a beautiful and innocent maid, but I simply cannot afford to let words like these slip out; it would be disastrous for me.
"Tell me why?" I yelled, already regretting what I was about to do to her. I wish she had just let me die. Then I wouldn't have had to go through this tough time of killing an innocent soul, a tough time of killing the mate I finally got.
"I didn't want to watch you die." She answered with a cry.
"Why?" I yelled, my eyes red as my claws grew out of my hands. I tried to get my hand to hit her. Just one scratch would be enough to kill her, but I couldn't bring myself to as I stared at her face and felt an extraordinary pull towards her. Her wolf was calling out to my beast, and her eyes were carrying what seemed to be my remedy.
"I think I am mated to you." She answered with a loud cry as she covered her eyes with her free hands. I couldn't control this feeling in me as I suddenly felt like my grip on her arm was too tough as I let go of her arms. Why am I letting go of a person I want to kill?
She knows she was mated to me, and I know the same. Our bodies and wolves are connected. If I kill her at this point, I'll slowly die of the loss of a part of me. I'll be weaker and I'll be the perfect prey for whoever wants to attack the prince.
"I was so scared and didn't know what to say when I found out because you are a person of a way higher rank and I was just your newly assigned servant. I tried to keep it a secret from you, but I couldn't bear to see you die. I was feeling your pain. " She added, I don’t know why I wasn't saying anything back to her, I don't know why I wasn't reacting, but one thing I knew was that I could not afford to kill her.
I have been alive for hundreds of years and haven't gone as close as smelling my mate. The moon goddess finally answered my pleas, and now I am about to kill her. Can I afford to give out this once-in-a lifetime opportunity?
A part of me is telling me that I will find another mate, but in my hundred years, she was the first one. I can not possibly take the risk since it will also affect me badly. It'll be a different scenario if she died differently, but if I kill her myself, then I might end up worse than I am.
Her eyes, her body, her everything was calling out to me. She is like a fallen angel that has come to redeem me. I can't let her go.
Without wasting any more time, I grabbed her arm and pulled her in for a hug, inhaling her every smell that happened to soothe my senses, and suddenly, all of my worries were gone.
I could feel her heart racing and I could still smell her fear as she tried to stop herself from crying. Seeing her shedding tears hurt me. I should in no way be the cause of her pain.
"I'm sorry," I begged, sincerely, as I caressed her braided hair and inhaled every bit of her smell. Soon enough, the fear in her vanished and was replaced with warmth.
I don't know how long we remained in this position, but I just didn't want to let go of her. I had just met her, yet I was already so addicted to her. Fuck!
"What's your name?" I asked but let out a cough immediately after as my voice was hoarse.
"Jasmine," she answered, as a laugh escaped my lips. She smelled just like jasmine, and it was definitely a soothing smell for me. I don't want to ever let go of her.
"I'm Joshua," I said, with a smile on my face. Smiling felt awkward as this was a genuine smile and I doubt I have ever felt this way since I was born.
"I am deeply sorry for everything, Jasmine. Forgive me, " I pleaded, and felt a small soft hand sneaking around my waist as she hugged me back. At this point, I couldn't stop myself anymore as I gave her a quick kiss on her forehead. She looked about 20 but had the most innocent aura I have ever felt. She was definitely innocent and I should take things easy with her without ruining things. I don't care if she's just a wolf. I'm far more happy that the moon goddess looked over my sins and blessed me with a wolf as sweet as her.
"Why did you do that?" I could sense her concern in her tone of voice when she asked, but I don't think I could answer her right now; maybe later. It'll be best if she doesn't know because that information might cause trouble for her.
"It'll be best if you don't know," I answered in the softest way I could. She seemed fragile but had a powerful aura as well. She is complicated, but I hope I find out more about her soon.
"Okay," she replied. I could feel her trying to remove herself from the hug, so I let her be while my hands were still holding hers. I wasn't sure if I wanted to completely let go of her.
"I need to get back to work now."
"What work?" I asked before realising that she was working as a maid here.
"Oh, you don't need to work anymore. You're mine now," I added with a smile, but she didn't seem excited even though she returned the smile. What could be troubling her and is there something strange about her that I don't know?
"Great," she replied.